North Korea Deploys More Troops to Russia: Seoul

SEOUL, 27 February 2025 (BSS/AFP) – North Korea has dispatched additional soldiers to Russia and redeployed several troops to the frontline in Kursk, according to intelligence sources in Seoul.

South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have previously reported that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Russia last year to support its military efforts against Ukraine’s unexpected offensive into the Kursk border region.

Earlier this month, South Korean officials stated that North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk had ceased combat operations since mid-January, with Ukrainian officials suggesting their withdrawal was due to heavy casualties.

However, on Thursday, an official from South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency (NIS) told AFP that these forces had since been redeployed to the area.

“In addition, some additional troop deployments appear to have taken place,” the official said, adding that the exact scale of the reinforcement is still being assessed.

Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially confirmed these deployments. However, their military cooperation has deepened, particularly after Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s visit to North Korea last year, during which both nations signed an agreement including a mutual defence clause.

Intensifying Battles and North Korean Involvement

Ukraine has previously claimed to have captured or killed several North Korean soldiers fighting in Kursk, and President Volodymyr Zelensky has released footage allegedly showing interrogations of North Korean prisoners of war.

Additionally, this month, Seoul’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper published an interview with a wounded North Korean soldier, who described the brutality of the combat.

He claimed that many of his fellow troops had been killed by Ukrainian drones and artillery fire, stating, “Everyone who joined the army with me is dead.”

Deepening Russia-North Korea Ties

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Pyongyang and Moscow have significantly strengthened their political, military, and cultural relations.

In his New Year’s address, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised Putin and appeared to reference the ongoing war, saying 2025 would be the year “when the Russian army and people defeat neo-Nazism and achieve a great victory.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, North Korean state media reported that Kim had visited a major military academy, urging troops to study modern warfare tactics.

Growing Concerns Over Military Alliances

The latest North Korean troop movements to Russia raise global concerns about the extent of Pyongyang’s military support for Moscow.

Western nations have accused North Korea of supplying artillery shells, missiles, and other munitions to Russia in exchange for economic aid and military technology, a claim both countries deny.

With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of abating, international analysts warn that such alliances could further escalate tensions and reshape global military dynamics.